The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and its Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN) today announced a three-year grant from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, which will benefit high school students who demonstrate high potential for careers in digestive disease research. The Student Research Fellowship Awards program was created by the AGA more than a decade ago to stimulate interest in gastroenterological (GI) research careers in high school, college and medical school students.

Youth are the future of scientific research, noted Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAF, Chairman of the Foundation. Our Foundation has recognized the need to begin fostering an interest in the field at the earliest point in a students academic career.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Student Research Fellowships will provide five students with $2,500 each to fund a 10-week session of research in digestive diseases or nutrition under the supervision of an approved preceptor. Preceptors are AGA members who serve as full-time faculty members at accredited North American institutions.

The 2007 AGA Foundation Broad Scholars are:

• Jane Li
  Westwood High School, Austin, Texas
  Research location: Dallas VA Medical Center
  Role of Oncogenic Ras in the Neoplastic Progression of Barretts Esophagus

• Yuan Tao
  Gunn High School, Palo Alto, California
  Research location: Palo Alto VA Hospital
  Monitoring of apoptosis in liver diseases with a novel keratin-cleavage specific antibody

• Alice B. Conant
  Phillips Andover Academy, Andover, Massachusetts
  Research location: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  Association of physical activity and biomarkers on colorectal cancer risk

• Laura G. Mirviss
  Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Maryland
  Research location: Johns Hopkins School
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